Frost free sillcock with improved handle

ABSTRACT

A frost free sillcock generally comprising an elongated housing having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, a valve cartridge provided with a stem disposed within such housing, and a handle including a rigid section mounted on an end of such stem and a resilient section mounted on such rigid section.

This application is a continuation of U.S. Design Patent Application,Ser. No. 29/258,006, filed Apr. 14, 2006, which is a division of U.S.Design Patent Application, Ser. No. 29/220,073, filed Dec. 23, 2004, nowU.S. Design Pat. No. 527,797, dated Sep. 5, 2006.

This invention relates to a sillcock and more particularly to a frostfree sillcock having an improved handle facilitating its use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Frost free sillcocks commonly are installed on the exterior ofresidential, commercial and other buildings to provide a source ofoutdoor water for watering vegetation, washing various structures,equipment and other articles and possibly servicing vehicles. Typically,such sillcocks are used by homeowners who attach hoses thereto andoperate the handles thereof to produce a flow of water under pressure.Commonly, the handles of such sillcocks are made of a metal, often of acast steel, which has been found to be difficult or uncomfortable tofirmly grip and turn to provide the flow of water. This especially hasbeen found to be prevalent where a sillcock has not been operated for aperiod of time such as over the winter months in northern climates. Itthus has been found to be desirable to provide a sillcock intended to beinstalled on the exterior of a building usually a residential structure,having an improved operating handle which may be easily and comfortablygrasped and turned manually and which will not be injurious to ordifficult for a user thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal objective of the present invention is achieved byproviding a frost free sillcock generally comprising an elongatedhousing having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, a valve cartridgeprovided with an actuating stem disposed in such housing and a handleincluding a rigid section mounted on an end of such stem and a resilientsection mounted on the rigid section. Preferably, the rigid section ofthe handle is provided with a tubular portion which receives the end ofthe stem, and an annular portion formed integrally on the end of thetubular portion to which the end of the stem is secured, the resilientsection includes a tubular portion disposed on the tubular portion ofthe rigid section and an annular portion disposed on the annular portionof the rigid section, and the resilient section is formed of a polymericor rubber material. It further is preferred that an outer edge of theannular portion of the resilient section be formed with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced recesses to facilitate the manual gripping ofthe handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 of the drawings is a front perspective view of a frost freesillcock embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the frost free sillcock shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the frost free sillcock shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view thereof, opposite the side shown inFIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 8 b is a front perspective of the handle of the sillcock shown inFIGS. 1 through 8, removed therefrom;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective of such handle;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of such handle;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of such handle; and

FIG. 12 is a rear elevational view of such handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a sillcock 20 whichgenerally includes a housing 21 containing a conventional valvecartridge having a stem extending therethrough and out of an endthereof, and a handle 22 connected to the free end of the stem. Thehousing includes a tubular portion 23 containing the valve cartridge andstem, and a cast section 24 which includes a mounting flange 25, anoutlet spout portion 26 and a vacuum breaker 27, through which the endportion of the stem extends. The tubular portion of the housing isintended to be inserted in a suitable opening in the wall of astructure, and the sillcock is adapted to be secured to the buildingstructure with the tubular portion extending through the opening thereofby means of positioning flange portion 24 against the outer surface ofthe building structure and securing the sillcock on the buildingstructure by means of a pair of threaded fasteners extending throughopenings 28 and 29 provided on flange 24, threaded into the buildingstructure to secure the sillcock in place. Tubular section 21 of thesillcock is provided with a threaded end portion 30 onto which acomponent of the water supply system of the building structure may beconnected to provide a supply of water under pressure to the valvecartridge of the sillcock, in the conventional manner. Outlet spoutportion 26 similarly is provided with a threaded end segment 31 ontowhich the end fixture of a hose may be threaded onto, also in theconventional manner.

As best shown in FIGS. 8 b through 12, handle 22 includes a rigidsection 32 which is connected to the free end of the stem, and aresilient section 33 disposed on rigid section 32. Rigid section 32includes an annular portion 34 provided with a center opening 35 and anintegral tubular portion 36 disposed coaxially with opening 35. Therigid section further includes a cylindrical portion 37 formed integralwith annular portion 34 and disposed within tubular portion 36,coaxially therewith. Cylindrical portion 37 further includes an axiallydisposed opening 38 having a square-shaped cross sectionalconfiguration, communicating with opening 35 in annular portion 34. Theend portion of the actuating stem connected to the valve cartridge isprovided with a similarly configured end portion which is received inopening 38 of the handle and secured to the rigid section of the handleby means of a threaded fastener 39, as best shown in FIG. 3.

Resilient handle section 33 includes an annular portion 40 and anintegral tubular portion 41. Tubular section 41 is disposed on andsecured to tubular portion 36 of the rigid handle section to firmlysecure resilient section 33 on rigid section 32. Annular section 40 issubstantially cup-shaped including a face segment 42 formed integralwith tubular portion 41 and an annular segment 43 provided with aplurality of circumferentially spaced, shallow depressions 44. Eachsuccessive set of depressions 44 is provided with a substantiallylongitudinally extending segment 45 projecting slightly beyond facesurface 34 and is provided with a rounded surface 46.

Handle 22 is connected to housing section 26 with the outer end of theactuating stem connected to the rigid section of the handle, by means ofa set of nuts 50 and 51 provided with suitable washers to preventleakage through such connection.

With the sillcock as described being mounted and secured to the wall ofa building, connected to a water supply within such structure andpossibly a hose connected to outlet portion 26, the sillcock may beoperated by simply manually grasping handle 22 and turning it in theconventional manner. The configuration of the handle as describedpermits the hand of the user to effectively grasp the handle. Thesoftness of the resilient section of the handle further permits the easyand comfortable application of force to turn the handle. If the sillcockhas been standing unused for a period of time and tends to be frozen inplace, requiring additional force to turn the handle, the softness ofthe resilient section of the handle permits the application of greaterforce while minimizing the discomfort of the hand of the user.

Any suitable resilient material such as a polymeric material or a rubbermaterial may be used to form the resilient section of the handle.Typically, such resilient section would be molded either indirectly andapplied to the rigid section of the handle or molded directly onto suchrigid section.

The provision of an outer resilient section of such handle facilitatesand minimizes if not eliminates any discomfort to the hand of the userin either breaking open the valve or closing it tightly. In turning thehandle, in either breaking it open or turning it to a closed position,the resiliency of the handle permits the application of forces in eitherbreaking open or tightly shutting the valve which are partially absorbedby the resiliency of the material of the handle.

Although a particular configuration of the valve has been described, itis contemplated within the scope of the invention to provide otherconfigurations providing for suitable means to adequately grip and turnthe valve, accommodating the hand and strength of the user.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that thereare a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the presentinvention, which come within the province of those persons havingordinary skill in the art to which the aforementioned inventionpertains. However, it is intended that all such variations not departingfrom the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scopethereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

1. A frost free sillcock comprising: an elongated housing having aninlet portion and an outlet portion; a valve cartridge provided with astem disposed within said housing; and a handle including a rigidsection mounted on an end of said stem and a resilient section mountedon said rigid section.
 2. A sillcock according to claim 1 wherein saidresilient section is formed of a polymeric material.
 3. A sillcockaccording to claim 1 wherein said resilient section is formed of arubber material.
 4. A sillcock according to claim 1 wherein said housingincludes a mounting flange.
 5. A sillcock according to claim 1 whereinsaid rigid section of said handle includes a tubular portion, and saidresilient section of said handle includes a tubular portion disposed onsaid tubular portion of said rigid section, and an annular portion.
 6. Asillcock according to claim 1 wherein said rigid section of said handleincludes an annular portion and tubular portion, said stem end isreceived in said tubular portion of said rigid section and connected tosaid annular portion of said rigid section, and said resilient sectionincludes a tubular portion disposed on said tubular portion of saidrigid section and an annular portion disposed on said annular portion ofsaid rigid section.
 7. A sillcock according to claim 6 wherein said stemend and said tubular portion of said rigid section of said handle areprovided with engaging sections permitting the transfer of rotary motionfrom said handle to said stem, about a longitudinal centerline thereof,and said handle is secured to said stem by means of a threaded fastener.8. A sillcock according to claim 6 wherein said annular portion of saidresilient section of said handle is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced depression engageable by the fingers of a userto facilitate a gripping of said handle.
 9. A sillcock according toclaim 6 wherein said annular portion of said resilient section of saidhandle is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spacedlongitudinally disposed segments.
 10. A sillcock according to claim 9wherein each of said segments is provided with a protruding roundedconfiguration to facilitate the gripping of said handle.
 11. A sillcockaccording to claim 8 wherein said resilient section of said handle isformed of a polymeric material.
 12. A sillcock according to claim 8wherein said resilient section of said handle is formed of a rubbermaterial.
 13. A handle mountable on the end of a stem of a sillcockcomprising: a rigid section including a tubular portion in which saidstem end may be received, and an annular portion; and a resilientsection including a tubular section disposed on said tubular portion ofsaid rigid section and an annular portion disposed on said annularportion of said rigid section.
 14. A handle according to claim 13wherein said resilient section is formed of a polymeric material.
 15. Ahandle according to claim 13 wherein said resilient section is formed ofa rubber material.
 16. A handle according to claim 13 wherein saidannular portion of said resilient section is provided with a pluralityof circumferentially spaced depressions.
 17. A handle according to claim13 wherein said annular portion of said resilient section is providedwith a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally disposedsegments about the periphery thereof.
 18. A handle according to claim 17wherein said segments are provided with protruding, roundedconfigurations.
 19. A handle according to claim 18 wherein saidresilient section is formed of a polymeric material.
 20. A handleaccording to claim 18 wherein said resilient section is formed of arubber material.